Officer fires at vehicle as it rams police cars; suspect hospitalized

From State Police: ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – The Virginia State Police is investigating a non-fatal shooting incident involving a Rocky Mount police officer that occurred Saturday evening (Sep. 10) in the town limits of Rocky Mount, Va. At approximately 11:20 p.m., a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy and Rocky Mount Police Officer attempted to stop a vehicle in the 900 block of Tanyard Road/Route 40. The suspect vehicle refused to stop and attempted to flee the scene. With the police officer and sheriff’s deputy’s vehicles blocking the suspect vehicle’s means of escape, the suspect vehicle began ramming the law enforcement vehicles. During the course of the suspect vehicle trying to escape and running into the law enforcement vehicles, the Rocky Mount police officer fired at the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle then broke free, fled the scene and was stopped by the same officers a short distance later.

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The adult male suspect driver was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. An adult female passenger in suspect vehicle was not injured in the incident. No law enforcement personnel were injured in the incident.

At the request of the Rocky Mount Police Department, the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Salem Field Office is investigating the shooting. At the conclusion of the investigation, state police will turn its findings over to the Commonwealth’s Attorney for final review and adjudication.